Labor’s Patrick Condren slams $6m Brisbane City Council ad spending spree

Labor’s Patrick Condren has lashed a Brisbane City Council ratepayer-funded advertising spending spree prior to next year’s election as an example of “self-promotion” and says Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and his administration were “out of touch”.

LABOR’S lord mayoral candidate Patrick Condren has slammed council plans to launch a ratepayer funded advertising campaign to promote initiatives in the LNP administration’s pre-election budget.

The Sunday Mail revealed this morning that ratepayers would splash $4 million on the promotional campaign – dubbed BrisBetter – in a move the council says is simply about informing residents of “money-saving initiatives and key projects”.

Mr Condren this morning said the revelations were another example of how Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and his administration were “out of touch”.

“Instead of self-promotion, maybe Adrian Schrinner should start spending money on the ratepayers of Brisbane instead of on the LNP administration and himself,” he said.

“What I will commit to do is not wasting ratepayers’ money on shameless self-promotion.”

Ads for the campaign, which has been launched less than six months before voters head to the polls, have already began running on television and on bus stops across the city.

Brisbane City Council will launch an advertising campaign to lure more tourists to Brisbane. Picture: Australia Bridges

Cr Schrinner yesterday said the campaign was supposed to boost confidence and economic activity in the city.

Mr Condren said plans for a separate $2 million advertising campaign to promote Brisbane to the rest of the country was “probably money well spent”.

Ads for the campaign have already run on television and bus stops across the city.

The council insists the ad campaign is about telling residents about “money-saving initiatives and key projects” that were funded in the administration’s latest budget.

They also say the campaign is supposed to drive local economic activity by highlighting opportunities for residents.

“This BrisBetter campaign is about boosting confidence and economic activity in our great city, making sure everyone can take advantage of the great initiatives that are currently underway,” Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said.

“Like the campaign says, Brisbane just keeps getting better.”

Cr Schrinner will also today announce new plans to launch a domestic tourism campaign that will first kick off in Brisbane before being expanded to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide in 2020.

He said the final details of the campaign, which is expected to cost about $2 million, were still being finalised.

“If it is as successful as we expect, we will look at extending it into winter, when Brisbane’s lifestyle is the envy of cold and miserable southern capitals,” he said.

Adrian Schrinner says if the campaign is a success, it will extend into the winter months. Picture: Annette Dew

“Council is committed to doing its part in driving economic opportunities for our city to boost our visitor economy and this national campaign is designed to do just that.”

Meanwhile, both major party candidates for Lord Mayor have refused to say if they will reduce residential rates or even limit any increases to ensure they are in line with inflation.

It comes after Labor candidate Patrick Condren last week promised to give an annual rates bill discount of up to $100 if they pay on time.

“For most Brisbane residents, this will see their annual rates bill fall below the level they paid last year under this LNP administration,” Mr Condren said yesterday.

Cr Schrinner insisted rates would always be higher under Labor, pointing to their record when they were previously in office.

“When Labor was in administration rates rose by 6 per cent four times in seven years,” Cr Schrinner said.

“This is something Team Schrinner will never do.”